1-5-12

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Tech Council Meeting on 1/5/12

Agenda
  • Welcome and Burning Issues/Questions
  • Access and control Issues
    • Content filtering issues - Steve suggests you talk to the controller of the content filter and work directly with he/her.
    • Mansfield has opened up YouTube for teachers without any problems. They purchased an Internet appliance so different access is available for teachers, students, administrators, etc.
    • Woodstock can't use Web tools or YouTube.
    • Tolland can't use Moodle because of concerns with students.
    • Rich suggests you enlist parental support for a more open environment.
    • Mansfield has a committee that discusses filtering.
    • Voluntown has YouTube open and has just had one incident which was dealt with as an Acceptable Use Policy problem. Jim also suggested quietube at http://quietube.com or ViewPure at viewpure.com/ to view YouTube without distractions. (Quietube may need to be opened.)
    • Pomfret had a problem with 2nd grade YouTube because of the side videos.
    • LanSchool and other applications can allow teachers to monitor where the students are and have been. Rich has been very impressed by LanSchool since it operates on all platforms. http://www.lanschool.com/ Rich's contact is Jessica menasian: jmenasian@stone-ware.com
    • Jim (for Windows and Linux) is free and good for labs. ITALC http://italc.sourceforge.net/
  • Mobile Devices
    • Rich - playing with iPad. Not having Flash is limiting. What are others using?
    • How do we manage "bring your own device"? - Jim G.
    • Steve thinks all these devices have yet to develop. Each has it's problems but in the future, these may be very promising tools for students to bring.
    • Can the devices log into the remote desktop?
    • Pam B. was impressed with the puppet pals app for elementary school. Free apps were fine and teachers could order the apps, but add-ons to the free apps were difficult logistically. Very easy to use quickly rather than loading and logging into the network.
    • Michel suggested pro lo quo (http://www.assistiveware.com/proloquo.php) for the iPad instead of the costly Dynabox for students who need a voice.
    • Purchasing online textbook and they will customize for your curricular needs. More resources are sometimes available for the online versions.
  • CEN is reaching out to some of the districts that have slow access to speed it up via grant funds.
  • Web Tools